The Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, Exhibiting a Concise View of the Latest and Most Important Discoveries in Medicine, Pharmacy, and Surgery

the Annals of Medicine in a different, and, in our opinion, in a better form. As we were in the habit of giving an analysis of the different articles in that work, we shall continue the same with the present. The division, like our own, consists of original communications, analysis of books, and medical news. Ot the former, the first article is the " History of Three Cases of Erythema Mercuriale, with Observations. By Thomas Spens, M. D. President of the

O tion, foetid exudation, or fever. Moreover, he speaks of the com'plaint, as not an uncommon effect ot' mercury.
The second article is, " An Account of Two Cases of Tumours in the Pelvis growing out of the sacrosciatic Ligament, one of which terminated fatally, and the other was cured by extracting the Tumour through an Incision made into the Cavity of the Pelvis, rough the Peiinaeum. By P. P. Drew, M. D. Fermoy, County of Cork." This is a very important paper, inasmuch as it authorises an operation, which, but for the event, some people might have called rash. In the first case, the boldness of the undertaking deterred the surgeons from attempting it, apprehending that the tumour might be connected with the large blood vessels in the inside of the pelvis. The increase of the tumour at last produced a total interruption to the passages of the urethra and rectum; and during the absence of Dr. Drew, the patient died convulsed.
On making a free opening into the pelvis,after death, the tumour Was easily turned out, having no communicating blood vessels, and only a slight attachment to the surrounding parts, excepting at its neck, which seemed to grow out of the sacro-sciatic ligament. Its texture was gristly, and the body of the tumour was a fat gristly substance.
hazardous operation, where the patient feels no other inconvenience than her increased bulk ; but where the offices of the neighbouring parts are so much interrupted as to render life no longer desirable, such a proposal might be submitted to the patient.
Article the third, On the Treatment of Chorea Sancti Viti, by Purgatives. By John M'Mullin, Member of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh.
The "the object of this paper is to show, that, admitting the disease in question to be a disease of debility, still purgatives may be necessary. This is what no prudent practitioner would doubt.
Debility is for the most part rather an effect than a cause ; and in our curative intention, the first business is to search for the cause* All Mr. M'Mullin's cases were in the Infirmary* probably among poor manufacturers children, or others in a similar situation.
Meagre diet, sedentary habits, and in some a period of life when v/e might expect chlorosis, probably produced a torpor in all the actions of the viscera, which a brisk purgative would be very likely to remove, and the diet and air of the hospital might be comparatively generous and pure, considering what such objects were accustomed to. The author remarks, that the fasces at the beginning of the treatment were, in every instance, black and foetid.
I'cetid is a very uncertain term for a stool, and the blackness might have been occasioned by the exhibition of chalybeates beloio the patients were admitted. However, these cases may be useful, if a general prejudice prevails that cathartics are never to be used Guards. The subject was one of twins, a female, in all respects stout, notwithstanding her unhappy formation. The history may stand among the records of those unfortunates, but no practical advantage can be derived from it. As the author observes, it resembles pretty much the case given by Dr. Baillie, in the Medical and Chirurgical Transactions. We Could wish Mr. C< to be a little more intelligible in his future reflections, should he offer any. If the partiality of the public allowed a great discoverer tp explain new ideas.in new language, they may not be so well pleased with our author's " whimsicalities of Nature," and his conjectures whether chance or design might have produced some of these aberrations from the customary arrangement of parts. It is, however, but,justice to add, that his only intention seems to institute an enquiry, how far the want of the anterior part of the bladder may render necessary, and be usually attended with those other alteiafions in the parts discoverable in this and many similar subjects. A well executed plate illustrates the description, . Article the sixth, " An Attempt towards a systematic Account Ey Andrew Duncan, Jun. M. D. Fellow of the Royal Collegfc of Physicians and Royal Society of Edinburgh." What the former paper hints at, this promises very amply to supply. Dr. Duncan, with great industry and not less judgment, has collected all the cases related by different authors, in which the bladder was deficient, and endeavoured to make such an arrangement as may generalize, if not reduce to order this imperfect organization. After a few preliminary remarks, he divides his enquiries, by giving, first, an accurate account of a male subject to accompany Mr. Coatcs's description of a female. Secondly, a description of tiie urinary organs in all such subjects of both sexes? as have been recorded. Thirdly, other deviations from the natural structure, common to both sexes. Fourthly, a description of the genital organs of the male. Fifthly, a description of those organs in the female. Sixthly, general observations. The article in the present number, extends no further than to the fourth division* A reference to the male cases on record, follows. A plate, giving a description of a case which occurrcd to Mr. Astley Cooped accompanies this article, which is to be concluded in the next number.
Article the seventh, " A Case of Catalepsy, with some Remarks on that Disease. By Richard Lubbock, M. D. of Norwich.
This curious disease, of which Dr. Cullen acknowledges he never saw nisi simnlatam, has been accurately described by few modern authors.
Dr. J. Jebb gave the history of a case, in which however many of his contemparies suspected he was deceived. Dr. Lubbock has seen several instances, two of which were in men. We are not disposed to question that gentleman's accuracy, nor do we doubt that the disease occurs much more frequently than is generally suspected, though the records are so few. The following arc the particulars of this case in the author's own words. " About twenty months ago,.Mr. W , of M , the apothecary who attended X. Y. a lady who is the subject of this detail* wrote to me, and gave me the particulars of a complaint, appearing to him singular and anomalous, whieh has more or less continued to trouble her at intervals since that time. Ilis account was, that X. Y. without any previous indisposition, was suddenly attacked, while at work or reading, with an appearance of insensibility, and loss of motion of the muscles, purely voluntary? for several minutes, although at the same time perfectly conscious of every thing passing around her; without any feeling ?f sickness or faintness, the colour of the countenance being unchanged, and in no degree different from what, it was in the most perfect health. At that time there was no irregular or convulsive motion in any part of the bodyand after remaining a short time motionless, and to appearance insensible, and at times without the power of speech, or of expressing her wants or wishes, by any kind of sign, she would in an instant resume her activity, without there seems to liave been something of the irregularity of the motto* of the extremities that characterizes St. Vitus's Dance, but which soon went off." After this, follows a further account of the remedies; which the author's candour induces him to speak of, without exalting their efficacy.
Nothing can be more perspicuous than the history of this disease, which is indeed not be wondered at, when we consider its author: but this consideration makes us regret the more that w'e cannot say as much for his reflexions. " Many and curious," says our author, " are the speculations suggested to the mind, by reflecting on the phenomena of the present and similar cases. It may be questioned, whether catalepsy has been correctly arranged by Sauvages and Cullen, under the order Comata in the class Neuroses. There is one general fact to be collected from all such cases, which is, that the cause of these phenomena is intimately connected with that faculty of the mind termed Volition. And what is remarkable and meriting attention, the same kind and degree of action, whether of flexion or extension* that this power called volition is exerting over the voluntary muscles at the moment of the accession, is immoveably preserved till the termination of the attack. Thus the diffusive current of volition is, as it were, stopt or frozen up, and its course through the muscles becomes fixed, and remains precisely in the same state, till the spell that fetters its influence is dissolved, and the seizure goes off." We cannot help thinking, that if Dr. Lubbock had made up his mind, with the same accuracy as he usually does before he offers his sentiments, he would have avoided a language well adapted to poetry. We, therefore, admire it in a Milton, and admit it in a Darwin. But we lament it in a philosopher, who at so early a period of life, and in so criide a state of the science, pointed to a revolution in chemistry, which was Soon afterwards to follow; The last original article is, " A Case of Enteritis, with Remarks. By Mr, James Ilumscy, of Amershani, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, of London, and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The only thing remarkable in this history is, that the author should think his practice new, or that the editors should, by a supplemental note, think it necessary to confirm it. In cases of severe pain jn a belly, tense and tender to the touch, most practitioners would suspect inflammation, and bleed freely. The author observes, that constipation is a necessary effect of inflammation in the bowels, as vomiiing is of gastritis. Admitting this to be the case, it does not follow, nor does' either the author or editor hint that constipation always arises from such a cause. Where the symptoms of inflammation are present, as in the case before us, the practice is certainr }y judicious, and if thoughf. new, it was at least well intended to fuforce it.

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The second part of the work consists of Critical Analysis of J3ooks. Under the Third Division " Medical Intelligence, we have first a long and authentic account of the Surgical Academy, (Pepiniere) at Berlin. By D, Gorcke, Surgeon General of the Prussian Army, and Director of the Academy. An Account of the Institution for the Cure and Prevention of Contagious Fever in this Metropolis; by Thomas Bateman, M. D, F,L. S. Physician to the Institution and to the Public Dispensary in Carey Street. Account of the Diseases in the Carey Street Dispensary from September 1 to November 30 inclusive. Two articles follow, which might be^ termed Communications; the first on the Anti-Variolous Powers of Vaccination ; the second, on Pulmonary Tubercles. The last contains many useful hints on diseases which hitherto have not beei? discriminated with an accuracy at all proportionate to their frequent fatality.